Dreaming, Mind-Wandering, and Hypnotic Dreams.
Frontiers in neurology January 1, 2020 Peter Fazekas, Georgina Nemeth 14 citations
Dreaming, mind-wandering, and hypnotic dreams may share underlying neural mechanisms, challenging earlier theories. Hobson's AIM theory mapped states of consciousness along dimensions of brain activity, input source, and neurochemical modulation, linking REM dreaming to other altered states like hypnosis. However, hypnosis is not a sleep-like state, and dreaming is not REM-centric. The neuro-cognitive theory places dreaming and mind-wandering on a continuum driven by default-mode network activity, questioning AIM theory. This paper argues that hypnotic dreams—experiences arising from explicit suggestions during hypnosis—can inform the neuro-cognitive theory, and comparing them with dreaming and mind-wandering may advance understanding of consciousness.